Course Accessibility Guidelines

Page Content

Goal of Checklist

The goal of this checklist is to help instructors identify common accessibility blockers in their courses and provide them with techniques that will make the content more accessible to a diverse audience.

Audience

The primary audience for this document is instructors who may only have minimal access to accessibility support resources. This document can also be used by instructional design and support staff.

Checklist of Blockers

This checklist identifies the most prominent accessibility blockers along with methods to ensure accessible content. Techniques are identified as either Fix/Add, meaning you (the instructor) should begin to address that issue proactively, or With Letter, meaning that you should be aware that the blocker must be addressed when an Academic Adjustment Letter is received
from Student Disability Resources.

Note: A student enrolled in any course presenting a Letter of Academic Adjustment from Student Disability Resources must receive the specified accommodations regardless of whether the technique is listed in this checklist.

List of Content Types and Recommend Solutions

Content

Guidelines

Benefits/Notes

Accessibility StatementFix/Add

Mandatory: All course syllabi must include the syllabus statement on accommodating disabilities.

If you create a PDF, provide the same information in some other accessible format unless verified by screen reader.

Tools which allow you to insert Flash content typically result in inaccessible content.

BENEFITS: PDF and Flash are not easily readable on mobile devices, so avoiding them will enhance mobile usability.

External DocumentsWith Letter

The content of any non-Penn State resource such as a Web site, PDF article from a journal, slides from external sources or other non-Penn State informational resources must be provided in an accessible format to students requiring an accommodation. In some cases, it is permissible to copy and reformat content just for students with a documented need.